Rahul Gandhi turns to surprise street sit-ins after student protest fallout

On August 21, Rahul Gandhi entered the Delhi DCP office demanding that police register an FIR for Sahil Lohchab, a 19-year-old who was hit by pellet rounds during a July 20 student protest and later required eye surgery. Faced with bureaucratic hesitation, Gandhi refused to leave, launching a sit-in that lasted several hours and was joined by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress figures, while Rapid Action Force personnel were positioned nearby.

The protest concluded after six hours when the police filed the requested FIR. The ruling party labeled the action as an example of “politics of anarchy,” arguing that an investigation was already underway. Lohchab’s relatives, who had been shuttling between police stations since mid-August, welcomed the development. The episode reflects Gandhi’s shift toward more direct, on-the-ground tactics following earlier surprise protests during student movements and his broader effort to engage younger voters.